Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Business development service
Through our partners, we support refugees with entrepreneurial training, equipping them with essential skills such as business plan development, money management, pricing and marketing. In addition, we link them to local business development service providers who can further support their business activities.
Start-up grants
Start-up capital is critical for refugees who establish enterprises. Start-up grants are provided where access to loans and other financial services is limited. The grant may be in the form of a productive asset or, where possible, is given in cash. Grants are provided based on the viability of the business plan the refugees have developed.
Financial inclusion
Access to affordable credit services is essential to refugees to start, build and expand enterprises, as well as to meet their household needs and be more resilient to emergencies. In addition, access to other type of financial services such as savings, payments and insurance – although not directly related to business development – is key to ensure the inclusion of refugees in the formal financial sector and promote their self-reliance and resilience.
We work with Financial Service Providers (FSPs), particularly microfinance institutions and banks, as well as with a number of specialized development agencies and impact investors, to promote and facilitate access to a range of financial services for refugees.
Resources for small and macro enterprises
- ILO International Labour Standards
- Social Performance Task Force
- United Nations Capital Development Fund
- Financial Sector Deepening Africa
- Sweden International Development Agency
- European Microfinance Platform
- UNHCR and Social Performance Task Force, 2017: Serving Refugee Populations: The Next Financial Inclusion Frontier, Guidelines For Financial Service Providers
- Study on remittance flows among refugees
- Accessible remittance services for refugees
Related articles
- Advancing the financial inclusion of refugees through an inclusive market system approach
- 5 Things You Should Know About Financial Services for Refugees
- CGAP, Microfinance Gateway: Removing Barriers to Expand Access to Finance for Refugees
- Refugee entrepreneur bring million-dollar boost to Australia's economy